On This Day In Judy Garland’s Life And Career – June 11

“Her voice is precise, and she has a technique in the projection of popular ballads which mature torch carriers might envy.” – Donald Kirkley, 1939

June 11, 1929: This photo was taken of Judy and her sisters during the filming of their film debut, the Vitaphone short The Big Revue. Judy had just turned seven-years-old. The trio was featured singing “In The Good Old Sunny South.” The sisters sang live on set which was common in those early days of sound film. The short was a Mayfair Pictures, Inc. production filmed at the Tec=Art Studios on Hollywood. The eighteen minute, two-reel short premiered at the Fox Belmont Theater in Hollywood, California, on August 14, 1929.

June 11, 1935: This ad in the Reno Gazette promoting the new season at the Cal-Neva Lodge featured The Three Garland Sisters ‘Harmony Stylists’ Seen recently in M-G-M pictures and Fanchon and Marco Theater Circuits. The opening of the new show and the sister’s engagement began on June 15, 1935.

June 11, 1938: Judy returned to MGM to work on Love Finds Andy Hardy, her first of three appearances as “Besty Booth” in the popular Hardy film series. Judy had been recuperating from her recent car accident on May 24th having suffered three broken ribs, a sprained back, and a punctured lung. The studio thought they might have to write Judy out of the film but luckily for us, they waited for Judy to get better, which she quickly did.

June 11, 1939: Judy and her pals, including Mickey Rooney, Jackie Cooper, Betty Jaynes, June Preisser, and Virginia Weidler, celebrated Judy’s 17th birthday with a pool party at the Santa Monica beach house of MGM Studios chief Louis B. Mayer.

The event was well documented and filmed for the newsreel cameras. It was part of the big studio build-up of Judy with The Wizard of Oz and Babes in Arms soon to be released.

Years later in an interview, Jackie Cooper remembered the event as being completely staged for the cameras to the extent that it wasn’t much fun for the young contract players as they were “directed” the entire time.

Also on June 11, 1939: This article about Judy at sixteen. The only problem is, she had just turned seventeen! It’s fascinating to see how MGM promoted Judy as being a year younger than she really was. It might be hard for people today to realize that news was not as instant nor as plentiful in 1939 as it is today. The only news available in 1939 was what was published in papers, fan magazines, on the radio, and in newsreels. Click on the image to read the article, much of which is studio fabrication, as usual!

June 11, 1940: Judy started production on her next film, Little Nellie Kelly, by shooting costume tests.

June 11, 1942: Judy and husband David Rose drove in the afternoon to Lancaster, California, to attend the wedding of Judy’s childhood friend. Judy volunteered to sing and sang “Oh, Promise Me,” accompanied by David on the piano. At the time Judy was currently filming For Me And My Gal and was about to start work on Presenting Lily Mars.

June 11, 1945: Judy had a glamour portrait photography session at MGM. It’s unknown exactly which portraits were taken on this date, so I’ve included some of photographer George Hurrell’s wonderful portraits taken of June in 1945, perhaps on this day.

June 11, 1948:The Pirate was released. It had previewed at Loew’s 72nd Street Theater in New York City on February 23, 1948. In the interim more editing was done to fix the film. To this day it remains a film that fans either love or hate, without much in-between.

June 11, 1951: Judy’s tour of the UK took her to the Palace Theater in Manchester, England. The stop was part of her UK tour after her opening at the London Palladium in April 1951 which was the beginning of her legendary concert years.

Photos from the collection of Bobby Waters. Thanks, Bobby!

June 11, 1952: This photo was taken of Judy backstage at the Curran Theater in San Francisco. Judy was announcing her recent marriage to Sid Luft on June 8th, at a friend’s ranch outside of Hollister, California. Also in the news was Sid’s recent court case with his ex-wife Lynn Bari which seemed to take up more space in the columns than the news of the wedding. Click on the images below to read the articles.

June 11, 1955: The final installment of the UK “Picturegoer” magazine’s feature on Judy and A Star Is Born. The first installment was published June 4, 1955.

June 11, 1964: Judy and Mark Herron went barhopping in Hong Kong. They were at the President Hotel at one point an saw “The Maori Hi-Five” and the band played “Happy Birthday” for Judy. Judy sang ‘Over the Rainbow.”

It was here that Judy and Herron announced that they were married which was picked up by the news and published around the world. See the June 6 entry for details.

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4 comments

My feelings on “The Pirate”: Not that it matters, but you can count me as one Judy’s HUGE fans who neither loves nor hates the film. I’m in the middle, enjoying it without loving it. I also feels it’s the only Garland film where her co-star’s numbers outshine hers. I think “Nina” and Gene’s “Be a Clown” (with the Nicholous Brothers) to be the film’s best. I think Judy’s “Mack the Black” is okay (first time ever that she’s heard in mediocre voice). “You Can Do No Wrong” is sung beautifully, but the song is instantly forgettable. Same with “Love of My Life.”

Thanks for writing! I have always enjoyed “The Pirate” immensely, but I see how many people might be middle of the road or even hate it. As has been pointed out, the film goes about a half hour or so before there is any Garland song. Perhaps if they had kept the original “Mack the Black” (or some variation) in the opening as originally intended, it might have punched it up a bit. However, I love the performances and the semi-surreal sets and costumes. I sure wish Warner Home Video would do a true HD restoration from the original Technicolor negatives. That would be something!

I agree, the Technicolor, costumes, and sets are beyond lavish! And it IS disgraceful that both this and “The Harvey Girls” (my number ONE favorite Garland film, btw) haven’t been released on Blu Ray. (and, like “A Star is Born”, I feel both “My Intuition” and “March of the Doagies” should be put back in where they BELONG! It would make a good film a very good film, and would fix the gaping plot hole just before the fire is set). Back to “The Pirate”: The script is extremely witty, and I love Gladys Cooper and Walter Slezak. My major problem with the film is right when Manuela decides to sacrifice herself. From that point up until the first “Be a Clown”, the film feels too stagy and talky to me. The pottery smashing scene doesn’t work for me either, as it’s too over the top. I also think Garland and Kelly should’ve had a totally different finale, but it’s pretty clear Porter’s score was very weak, and that was the only song worth repeating. All in all, a strange picture. Favorite comedy bit: I love how Aunt Inez never lets cigar-smoking Uncle Capucho get a work in edgewise, bossing him around. Yet when they think they’re standing face to face with Macoco, she says, “Capucho, DO something!” NOW he’s supposed to “do something???” Cute bit.

As popular as “The Harvey Girls” is, I’m surprised they haven’t given it the same “Ultra-Resolution Process” restoration that they have given to “Oz” “Meet Me In St. Louis” and “Easter Parade.” I really enjoy “The Pirate” in spite of its faults. It’s so unique. 🙂